Rehoming vs Retiring - Opinions please

[sian230]

Hey,
I have a lovely 16hh TB mare. She is 19 years old, although you would never know it to look at her.

She is a lovely, friendly mare who I have tried to find a good, permanent loan home for previously, but unfortunately I seem to have met every con man/woman in a thirty mile radius!

Due to her last 'permanent loan home' givin her back with less than a weeks notice, I had no choice but to send her to a retirement/grass livery for the winter.

She is currently living out in a herd, has regular rug changes and is checked on etc, but she is a really friendly mare who always enjoyed her work and fuss and attention and she has been there for around three months now and I'm considering giving it one last try to find her the perfect loan home.

Am I asking the impossble:

I would want a lightweight (max 10 and a half stone) and experienced adult who wanted a forward going, but snaffle mouthed mare to have fun hacking out on. She could take part in sponsored rides and would do very well in veteran classes. She could do some light schooling too.

However:

She is not to jump.
She has been out of work for three months and would need to be got fit properly
She is happy to live out, but I would prefer her to have a stable for the harshest months of winter, although this isn't altogether necessary.
I would want her to go to a permanenet home - at 19, is this something that many people look to do?

I've not re-advertised her as after the horros I ae met I've been trying to decide whether to leave her on retirement livery or to look for a new home.

I really do feel that she is being wasted just living in a field and due to time and lack of transport, I am unable to visit her more than once every three weeks.

Do you think that I *might* be able to find this type of home for her, or do you thnk I am asking for someone out there who doesn't exist?

Having her pts is not an option. She is a hapy and genuine mare. I want her to have more in her life, not less!

Thanks,
Sian

 

[Dawng]

I would snap her up if you lived near - I just like hacking and as long as she is bomb proof would be ideal however I bet I live miles away - this seems to be the bug bear with loans at the moment - I see a few people saying how difficult it is - people don't want there horses (quite understandably) to go too far and it's finding somebody close by that is suitable - it can be done but can take time - good luck.

 

[sarahann1]

I recently bought a horse which fits more or less the description of your mare, BUT I only took him on because I knew him and had loaned him, and I only loaned him because I had ample opportunity to try him before I made that decision. In my current financial situation I personally wouldn't take on an oldie (I realise that 19 isn't that old in the greater scheme of things, but increased risk of arthritis etc would put me off) that was unknown to me.

Do you have any friends who would like a horse to pootle about on? Or trying a local riding stables to see if they have any customers who would like that sort of horse? Then you might get an opportunity to see them ride and get to know them before you offer a loan?

Fingers crossed you get something sorted out.

 

[sian230]

Dawn, you can't even begin to believe the type of people that I have contact me or the people that have taken her on, promised me the World, only to then:

a) let her run with their colts to try and get her in foal after me saying no. (I thought that 18 was too old for a first one and not fair on her)
b) had someone ring me and tell me that the loaner is moving the horse to the other end of the country the following day, was I aware? NO
c) her to be given to someone else!! Really!!!
d) to give me a week to find her a new home and for her to come back unable to breath, abscess in a frton foot and kick marks to chest and hind legs.

I've been reading through a fair bit on here today and thought I'd see if people thought it could be done and I'd be unlucky, or this was the best I was going to find.

She is stabled (fielding) in Ingatestone, Essex.

She is a very forward going mare, yet you could ride her alongisde a train and she wouldn't bat an eyelid at it. Surely people out there would want a fun hack and not everyone is looking for a plod?

 

[sian230]

I recently bought a horse which fits more or less the description of your mare, BUT I only took him on because I knew him and had loaned him, and I only loaned him because I had ample opportunity to try him before I made that decision. In my current financial situation I personally wouldn't take on an oldie (I realise that 19 isn't that old in the greater scheme of things, but increased risk of arthritis etc would put me off) that was unknown to me.

Do you have any friends who would like a horse to pootle about on? Or trying a local riding stables to see if they have any customers who would like that sort of horse? Then you might get an opportunity to see them ride and get to know them before you offer a loan?

Fingers crossed you get something sorted out.

hmmm, that was my worry. Due to her currently being in a field, people wouln'dt have the chance to try her out as would need to take her home, settle her and get her fit.

I have lots of people that could vouch for her. My vet and his assistant both loved her but neither of them was looking to take a horse on. I've not considered contacting a riding school...that's something I could think about. Obvisouly not for her to be used in a riding school, but they may know of someone who knows of someone etc I suppose... thanks for the thought and I hope you are enjoying your horse.

After knowing my mare, I'd never consider 19 as old again!